10+ Things No One Tells You About C Sections

We take you behind the scenes to learn what it’s really like to have a C-section — and brace you for a few common shockers. (Vaginal car wash, anyone?)

We take you behind the scenes to learn what it’s really like to have a C-section — and brace you for a few common shockers. (Vaginal car wash, anyone?)

1. There will still be hands on your coochie

Surprised? Bump Lori (our creative director!) gave it to us straight: "After C-section #2, a nurse came into my room in the middle of the night and gave me what I now refer to as a vaginal car wash. I was NOT expecting that!” It's true: even though it isn't baby's exit route, your vagina will still be involved in your C-section and recovery. Basically, the “vaginal car wash” will come sometime after delivery (and more than once, if needed), and just involves a little rinse-down with a peri bottle and a pat down with a dry cloth — the point is to clean up any blood that will be leaking out after the surgery. (More on that later.) Also, be prepared for a nurse to insert a catheter before surgery (but usually after you've received anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing).

2. You’ll probably get the shakes

If you have a spinal, you'll probably spend some time involuntarily vibrating all over (though some find it’s just their legs that spasm). "It's a strange sensation for some patients as it is involuntary shaking, but it's nothing excessive — just a light shiver — and perfectly normal!" says Dr. Carolyn Eskridge, an OB with Eastover Ob/Gyn in Charlotte, NC. But don't worry: "It subsides quickly, as the spinal usually wears off after a few hours," assures Dr. Eskridge.

3. You might feel a little tugging

The good news is you’ll be totally numbed from your belly down during surgery (and for a couple of hours afterward), so your cesarean won't hurt a bit. But some moms do claim to feel a little pushing and tugging sensation as baby is eased out of their abdomen (especially if the wee one is crammed up near their rib cage).

4. You will probably be freezing during delivery

We’ve heard from tons of mamas who complain about being ice cold during their C-sections — and many tend to blame it on the cool temps in the OR. But while ORs are definitely kept cooler for other surgeries (to maintain sterility, prevent humidity formation and combat bacterial colonization), Dr. Eskridge says docs actually raise the temperature in the room for C-sections in order to accommodate the new arrival. Still, between being numbed from the waist down and lying still for 30 minutes half-naked, it’s no wonder moms tend to catch a chill. But at least there’s some good news: you can often request warm blankets to be placed on you to combat some of the chilliness.

5. You’ll get a bonus "leg massage"

After surgery your docs will bring in contraptions called sequential compression devices (SCDs), which work to improve your circulation and prevent blood clots. They may even slip them on when you’re asleep and numb after surgery — so if you wake up to find them on you, don’t be alarmed. They kind of look like space boots and they may seem a little weird at first (since they inflate and deflate repeatedly), but the sooner your blood gets pumping all around, the sooner your docs will take them away.

6. Stool softeners = your new best friend

Pooping can be a major problem post C-section, since it's tough to push when your abdomen is tender and sore. Taking stool softeners after delivery will ease you back into pooping again — and make you a pretty happy camper in the process. Just remember to drink lots of water, and walk around as soon as you can, to keep your bowels awake. And to ease your mind: No, you won’t bust your stitches pooping — it just doesn't happen.

7. Coughing and sneezing will hurt

“I came home and had a coughing fit one afternoon, and OMG it hurt like the dickens!” says BOGOhokie06. Dr. Eskridge, who had two C-sections of her own, had the same experience and has some advice: “Splinting (holding a pillow against the abdomen over the incision) is very helpful in preventing pain with cough/sneeze/laughing.” Keep a pillow handy in all rooms of the house, and when you’re riding in a car. Belly bands or other compression garments can also help support your abs, since applying pressure to your muscles after they’ve been cut will help combat the pain that comes from muscle contractions. How long can you expect this to last? Dr. Eskridge says most mamas find the pain will be the worst the week after delivery but will gradually get better over the course of a few weeks after that.

8. Exercise is everything

We’re not suggesting you get up and do a round of jumping jacks, but just getting up and hobbling around as soon as humanly possible is a good idea. (Well, after your doc says it’s okay.) “Once the spinal wears off and movement is back in the lower extremities, then it is safe to walk around,” says Dr. Eskridge. “Plus, it gets the bowels working again and can prevent a lot of gas pain!” It also helps prevent blood clots. So get off your butt.

9. There will be blood

"I was surprised about the postpartum bleeding," says Bumpie bchenier. "I guess I figured since the baby didn't come out from there, I wouldn't bleed (boy, was I wrong)." You won’t have as much postpartum bleeding as with a vaginal delivery (since the vaginal cavity is wiped clean at the time of your surgery), but bleeding will still happen. After all, your uterine wall has to heal itself after the placenta has been detached, and your blood vessels are responding to the dip in hormone levels. Plus, that thick lining that grew to support your baby throughout your pregnancy will need to shed itself in the weeks after your delivery. Don’t worry though — any bleeding should be light and only last about six weeks, max.

10. That scar might freak you out (for a little while, anyway)

Some moms admit they didn’t realize just how prominent their scar would be at first. “I felt totally disfigured,” says Bump Lori of her C-section scar. “But over time, it faded and flattened a lot, and now I actually love it. It's my mommy battle scar!” Don’t fret over it too much — just expect that while you may be weirded out at the beginning, the newness of it will fade in time. Want to help it fade faster? Dr. Eskridge suggests trying scar-fading ointments like Mederma — but only after you’ve let it heal for six weeks (applying anything sooner may cause an infection).

11. You may have gas pains — in your shoulders

Yep, you read that right. You may get some wicked gas pain in your shoulders after delivery. When your bowels become sluggish after surgery, the resulting gas pain can press on the diaphragm, and that pain can extend to the shoulders. To combat this, your nurse will offer you anti-gas meds and encourage you to walk around as soon as possible. But that’s not the only cause of postsurgical shoulder pain. Dr. Eskridge says that sometimes mamas feel this way as a result of "referred pain" — pain that’s actually being caused in another part of the body (in this case, your uterus), but felt somewhere else, because of the way your nerves react. Yes, it can be rough, but the pain should subside in a day or so.